Chapter 10: Massacre
A.N.: Credit goes to Heather Dixon for creating an antagonist scary beyond imagination. I used some Entwined quotes in this chapter.
Ben Finn, Forge, Blade, Logan, Walter, and their troops wandered through Bowerstone, wincing around every corner.
The Crawler's invasion was much worse than anyone had imagined. Death was everywhere and innocent villagers were being mercilessly tortured. It made Blade's heart quicken.
Blade ran ahead of her team to scout the area. The Crawler caught her, grasping her arm firmly enough so she couldn't escape him, but gently enough that it seemed more horrifying. Blade's heart either stopped or was beating so quickly that she couldn't make out the individual beats anymore.
The Crawler grinned, "Let's play a game. I've heard some children do it with crickets, but I think it's more fun with people," his long fingers dropped to grasp Blade's hand. She struggled to escape from him, only to find herself embedded. Blade whimpered as the Crawler continued, "shall we start with your thumbs?"
A gunshot sounded. The Crawler disappeared. Blade didn't have time to apprehend what was happening until, next thing she knew, she was staring at a man she never thought she'd be glad to see. Blade, free from her captor, leapt into her savior's arms. Reaver, stunned at first, wrapped his arms around the frightened girl.
"Thank you," she whispered, breathlessly.
Reaver closed his eyes to savor the moment.
"Get your hands off my girlfriend," Forge frowned at the deviant as he caught up with the redhead.
Blade pulled away from Reaver, returning to Forge, faithfully. Forge threw his arm around her shoulder, protectively. The rest of her team caught up to the queen, the blacksmith, and the thief.
Ben and Blade were ensnared next. The Crawler studied Ben carefully. While the creature was distracted, Blade attacked. The Crawler disappeared. He reappeared beside Forge, who was standing on the other side of Bowerstone. Forge jumped when he noticed the Crawler next to him. He closed his eyes, trying to calm down.
The Crawler grinned, "My, you startle easily."
Forge frowned at him. As the Crawler reached toward him, he snapped and stabbed the creature through his...stomach? Forge forced his sword farther into the creature. The Crawler managed to escape.
By the end of the fight, the Crawler possessed Walter, who was caught off-guard until the moment he turned and faced the grotesque creature. In order to save him, Blade had to kill him. Regret and sorrow took over her as she stabbed Walter through his belly. Walter coughed up blood. Blade's team watched in horror. Over Blade's shoulder stood the Crawler, watching in pain and pleasure. Blade forced her sword through Walter before pulling it out and attacking the fiend with it. Walter laid on the ground, dying. A pool of blood formed around him.
After defeating the Crawler, Blade held a short funeral for Walter and the other citizens who had died. Then, she wandered through Bowerstone. Bodies and blood covered the streets. Sadness was everywhere. Blade finally reached the border. Standing there, waiting for her, was Forge. She leaned on his shoulder for a while, letting the despair overcome her. Forge kissed her forehead.
"We'll get through this," Forge assured her, "and you'll be known as a Hero like your mother."
Blade hiccuped, "you think so?"
"I know it."
Blade laid her head against Forge's shoulder and took a deep breath.
"We should probably go back to the castle," Forge whispered.
"Why?" Blade asked, "Albion can wait."
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